Catalytic gas reactions



Feb. 16, 1932. M. PIER CATALYTIC GAS REACTIONS Filed July 23. 1927 r 0 w m 5 m 5 S 9 M V .1 8 t s? w W 3 .e s au m d (Vapor: of middle 0/7} INVENTOR fl ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATHIAS PIER, OF HEID'ELIBERG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

STANDARD-I. G. COMPANY, OF LINDEN, NEW

WARE

JERSEY, A CORPOBATIOLT OF DELA- CATALYTIC GAS REACTIONS Application filed July 23, 1927, Serial No. 208,085 and in Germany July 24, 1926.

In the destructive hydrogenation of carbonaceous materials, such as coal, tars, min- 'eral oils and the like, i. e. the treatment thereof with hydrogen under pressure, the highest catalytic efi'ect possible is always aimed at.

In the first place this, of course, depends on the quality of the catalyst employed, but also on .the fact that as much as possible of the substances, which are to enter into reaction, should come into contact with the catalyst in the unit of time. An increase in the rate of the speed of the gases however shortens the duration of contact.

I have now found that the efliciency of the catalytic action is considerably increased by maintaining the catalyst in a more or less.

fine state of division, into a state of suspension in the reaction chamber, the particles of the catalyst being whirled about therein by means of an eddying gas current. The

strength of the said gas current is so adj usted that the bulk of the catalyst remains within the reaction space and is not carried away therefrom by the reaction gases. The said gas current may be a component in the reaction or an inert gas, and it may be introduced into the reaction space through a grate or nozzles, but it is also very advantageous to pass the same through porous plates or through a layer of granular material, preferably in such a manner that the gas traverses all parts of the cross-section at approximately the same rate, a uniform distri ution of the gas current being thus obtained which ensures the whirling particles of the contact substance to be present in every part of the reaction space. In this way, it is achieved that the largest possible amount of the substances, whichare to enter into reaction, comes into contact with a given amount of the catalyst and is catalytically influenced thereby.

With the rate of the gas current, the specific density of the gas, the size of the particles of the catalyst and its specific gravity suitably adapted to one another, the height of the reaction sphere can be kept constant. The catalysts which are thus whirled up, may be of granular nature consisting of coarse or fine grains, or they may be employed in a finely divided state. They may even be employed 1n the finest degree of dispersion, so that substances come into question as catalyifs, which otherwise do not act catalytica y.

The process according to the present invention has the further advantage that the I distribution of heat is effected very rapidly and thoroughly, so that both in exothermic and endothermic reactions, a uniform temperature throughout the reacting space is easily maintained.

Any dust evolved from the catal st is removed from the reaction gases be ore they reach the cooler parts of the apparatus, where otherwise condensations or undesirable reactions and the like might take place. The said removal of catalyst dust may be effected The catalyst in the form of powder or fine grains is maintained in a state of whirling motion as indicated by the shading D. The apparatus is operated as follows; reference being had for example to the destructive hydrogenation of a heavy middle oil. Hydrogen is fed in at E and passes down along the wall of the vessel A'until near the bottom thereof where it is mixed with vapors of the middle oil introduced at F. The resulting gas and vapor mixture is passed through the porous plate G into the catalyst resting thereon which is Whirled up by the gas current and thus brought into intimate contact therewith. The fine catalyst particles are separated from the gas having undergone the treatment by means of the baffles G and the sieve H. The gas leaves the apparatus at J.

The following example will further illustrate how my invention may be carried out in practice but the invention is not limited to this example.

' Ewample A current of hydro 11 charged with the va ors of a heavy mi dle oil is fpassed into a igh pressure reaction vessel rom below, at 460 C. and 200 atmospheres pressure, throu h a porous plate of fire-proof material, exten ing over the whole cross-section of the said vessel and ti htly fixed therein, and on which a molyb enum-chromium catalyst rests in a granular state or in the form of dust. At a roper speed of the oil-loaded gas current, t e catalyst is brought into suspension in the reaction space, the particles whirling about and being fairl uniformly distributed throughout the who e of the reaction space. Before the reaction product reaches the cooler parts of the apparatus, the catalyst dust is removed from the gas current by means of baflies or a dust separator consisting of a wire screen with very fine meshes.

On coolin the gases leaving the reaction vessel a pro not is obtained containing more than per cent of benzine.

Because of the whirling movements of the catalyst, its efliciency is far greater than without the em loyment of the whirling catalysts,'under ot erwise similar conditions of working.

What I claim is:

A process for the catalytic destructive hydrogenation of mineral oils with hydrogen at an elevated tem rature and pressure which comprises maintaining catalyst particles in a state ofsuspension and eddying motion within the reaction space by means of hydrogen charged with the vapors of the said mineral oil and blown in at suflicient speed to efiect such suspension but not at such a high speed as to carry away the bulk of the catalyst from the reaction space and removing any catalyst particles which may be carried along from the reaction gas before condensation takes place by contact with cooler parts of the apparatus.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MATHIAS- PIER.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION. 5

Patent No. 1,845,058. February 16, 1932.

MATHIAS PIER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 87, after "F." insert the words "During its passage along the wall of the vessel A the hydrogen is preheated by the heat of the chamber B, thereby cooling the upper part of this chamber."; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 13th day of December, A. D. 1932. v

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissionerof Patents. 

